Citrus Production

Dr. Sajjad Hussain is working as an Associate Professor of Horticulture in the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences & Technology at Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan. He earned his Ph.D. in 2011 at the University of Corsica Pascale Paoli, France, working with Dr. Rapahel Morillon and Dr. Francois Luro on the physiological and molecular determinants of salt stress in citrus. Apart from teaching various graduate and post-graduate horticultural courses, his primary areas of research are plant physiology under abiotic stresses, physiological responses of plants under mycorrhizal colonization, management of nutrient uptake of horticultural crops, and plant adaptation under climate uncertainty. The overall aim of his research is to understand the underlining mechanisms for the management of abiotic stresses (salt, drought, temperature, waterlogging, etc.) by combining physiological, eco-physiological, molecular, and biogeochemical approaches. He has been working in the field of citriculture for the last 15 years. Currently, he is working on polyploidy rootstock manipulation for better adaptation to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Furthermore, he is also working on developing new rootstocks and scions for better fruit yield and quality. He is actively collaborating with the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) in Montpellier, France, as well as the French National Research Institute for Agriculture (INRAE). He has published over 70 peer-reviewed publications, over 35 book chapters, and several conference papers. He has successfully supervised three Ph.D. students and 25 M.Phil. students. He has been involved as principal and co-principal investigator in various research grants worth around 25 million PKR from different funding agencies. He is also actively working as a reviewer for different Impact factor journals.

This book compiles information on the challenges and approaches in improving stress tolerance and enhancing citrus crop productivity.

Citrus Taxonomy. Challenges to the Citrus Industry. Part I: Genetic Diversity in Citrus. Challenges and Advances in Citrus Breeding. Genetic Improvement in Citrus. Part II: Abiotic Stresses and Citrus: Physiology, Metabolic and Molecular Responses. Citrus Response and Tolerance against Salinity. Drought. Water Logging. Temperature Stress. Light Stress. Heavy Metals. Nutritional Imbalance. Part IV: Recent Biotic Stresses Faced by Citrus Production. Citrus Greening. Citrus Response to Diseases. Insects that Threaten Citrus Production. Part V: Harvest and Postharvest Challenges. Harvesting Factors that Influence Citrus Production. Preharvest Conditions that Influence Postharvest Losses. Post-harvest Physiology and Quality Maintenance of Citrus Fruit. The Supply Value Chain of Fresh Citrus Fruit. Citrus Nutritional Value and Human Health.